ECIS - Key Persons
After working as a pharmacy assistant, Caroline began her ECIS career as part of the Teacher Placements team and spent a year with CIS (Council of International Schools), until the lure of working on ECIS conferences became too much, and she returned to the ECIS fold as an Events Assistant.
During her time at ECIS, Caroline has enjoyed various roles such as Teacher Placements Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Executive Assistant, and is currently the Office Manager. In her spare time, Caroline enjoys theatre, yoga, boxing and going to the gym.
Job Titles:
- Headteacher / Vice Principal St George 's International School, Luxembourg
DEIJ has always been an area of interest for me, underpinning my own values and beliefs. Recently, I have been pleased to see the area re-gaining importance on National and Global levels. Seeing DEIJ promoted as the topic of the ECIS conference, rather than a single session was a trailblazing decision, showing the importance of the area. This has been solidified by the move by ECIS to ensure that diversity, equity, inclusion and justice is placed at the forefront of their organisation, embedded throughout.
I am not an expert in DEIJ, but I follow the area closely, and enjoy finding new articles and areas of research, once very limited, but recently growing. I have participated in and led seminars, mostly on the international circuit, highlighting the importance of a diverse staff and governance in our schools, as well as the need to diversify and décolonisé the curriculum.
Job Titles:
- Director, American School of the Hague
Job Titles:
- Head of School, American Creativity Academy, Kuwait
I am delighted to be working with ECIS to help move the important work of DEIJ forward. I have worked in international education as a teacher, principal, educational consultant and workshop facilitator. I am the author of Teaching and Learning for Intercultural Understanding: Engaging Young Hearts and Minds (Routledge, 2018), a comprehensive resource for educators, and believe in intentionally embedding this pedagogy in our learning communities. Inclusive learning communities are developed intentionally when all members, students and adults, work together to ensure that everyone is valued and feels a deep sense of belonging. Passionate about developing intercultural understanding in children and adults, I am deeply committed to honouring each other's cultures, languages, identities, personal stories and histories, and to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice and antiracism in education.
Dr Omolola Wright-Odusoga is the former Founding Head of School of The English Modern School and Kindergarten in Al Wakra, Doha. A transformative educational leader with vast experience in International Education, her philosophy is that all students can learn to grow to their full potential. Dr Lola is committed to DEIJ through 21st-century education that aims to impact positive social change in the community.
Job Titles:
- Regional Education Officer, Office of Overseas Schools, United States Department of State
Job Titles:
- Head of International Consultancy
Helen has worked extensively as an independent Educational Consultant with a range of UK and International schools and organisations to develop their effectiveness. She is an accredited Senior Practitioner Coach with the European Coaching and Mentoring Council, empowering executive leaders to drive improvement. Her portfolio is underpinned by her experience of working as a Teacher, School Leader, and National Strategies Consultant.
Job Titles:
- Head of the Lower School at Riverdale Country School
James P. Duval is the Head of the Lower School at Riverdale Country School. James joined Riverdale Country School in July of 2016. Prior to joining Riverdale Country School, James was the Elementary School Principal at Benjamin Franklin International School where he worked for more than 9 years.
Job Titles:
- Design and Communications
James is based in Graz and responsible for all communications, design, and branding. He has a background in both design and education, having previously worked for creative agencies in Vienna and Berlin as a Conceptual Designer and Copywriter for global brands including Ebay, Opel, and Mastercard, plus freelance work for a range of clients in Europe and the Middle East. James has also worked for St. Gilgen International School as a teacher of Communication Design, as well as running a boarding house. He designed a new curriculum for grades 5-9 and set up a student-managed creative agency with real clients. James is the author of People, Pens, & Paper, a book of creative ideas for teachers. Outside of work, he is an experienced voice artist having worked with a range of clients throughout the world, including for motion pictures and advertising. He is currently writing a book about Hong Kong and enjoys designing retro airline maps and making '80s videos.
In the classroom as a middle school math, science, and design teacher for more than two decades Jim is a dynamic educator focused on development in and out of the classroom. He is also known for his work with design thinking and leadership training, having served individuals and schools around the world.
Jim is passionate about international schools, their faculty, and the communities they serve without ever losing sight of the students at the heart of our work.
Jo Whitson is Head of Events at ECIS. ECIS (The Educational Collaborative for International Schools) is a not-for-profit global membership organisation that supports schools in the areas of teacher development, leadership development, recruitment, human resources, governance, and risk, complemented by grants and awards. Jo has over 10 years of experience working on a diverse range of events from mass participation sports events and elite competitions, to corporate dinners and international conferences. In her current role at ECIS, Jo leads the Events team and is responsible for end-to-end event and project management, strategy to execution, including working collaboratively with legal, risk, procurement, and brand.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the ECIS Team
- Learning Leader
With an impressive background in education and leadership, Kam is a learning leader and brings insight, wisdom, and compassion to the role. She has demonstrated the ability to build meaningful, lasting relationships that contribute to personal and organisational development and improvement.
Kam is committed to social justice and equity through diversity, inclusion, and intercultural understanding in international education.
Kam Chohan joined ECIS in February 2018 as Chief Operating Officer and became Executive Director in August 2020.
With a background in education and leadership, Kam is a learning leader and brings insight, wisdom, and compassion to the role. She has demonstrated the ability to build meaningful, lasting relationships that contribute to personal and organisational development and improvement.
Kam is a passionate educator and has enjoyed lecturing in mathematics and business in previous roles. As an example of her commitment to student learning, Kam worked with the UK Government's Behaviour Insights Team to apply the Nudge Theory to improve student outcomes on a national level. This highlights her innovative approach to education and her commitment to making a positive impact.
In December 2022, Kam was the recipient of the 1885 NEASC Award for Exemplary Service to Education.
Notably, Kam Chohan received the 1885 NEASC Award for Exemplary Service to Education in December 2022. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of education, further confirming Kam's dedication and excellence in her work.
Kam is committed to social justice and equity through diversity, inclusion, and intercultural understanding in international education.
Job Titles:
- Director, American International School Vienna
Job Titles:
- Founder of the Association of International Educators
Kevin Simpson operates KDSL Global, an education consulting company launched in 2016 in the United Arab Emirates & USA. He and his team have served thousands of schools, educators, and leaders in over 25 countries.
Simpson is founder of the Association of International Educators and Leaders of Color, co-founder of the UAE Learning Network, leads the GCC ASCD Connected Community. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Michigan State University (USA).
A third culture kid, Kyra began her career in international education in 2006. She worked in international student recruitment before switching to to the "other side of the desk' in future pathways counselling.
Her roles at the Lycée Français in New York, United World College Costa Rica, Aloha College and the British School of Barcelona have given her a unique dual perspective on international education with a DEIJ lens. She also consults for universities, schools and ed-tech organisations, and hosts a podcast on innovation in education, The PilotEd.
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Trainer
- Associate Consultant for LSC Education
Formerly Principal of an award-winning international school in the Middle East, Matthew is now an educational consultant and trainer, speaker and writer, content creator and coach, architect of #themonalisaeffect®, and host of The Data Conversation podcast.
Matthew is an Associate Consultant for LSC Education, in which role he coaches senior leaders in the UK and internationally, and also leads governance training with international school boards; and he is a passionate advocate for and ally of #deij worldwide, a member of the Diverse Educators network and the ECIS #deij team, and host of the "Jack and Me" podcast.
Job Titles:
- Member of the ECIS Team
- IT & Data Manager
Mohammed graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Information Technology from Kingston Business School an eternity ago! Having early on pursued an interest in advertising - inspired by the legendary David Ogilvy, he successfully secured an internship at Ogilvy & Mather in New York, before moving into IT, then Digital, and now Salesforce.
As an IT and Knowledge Management Consultant, he worked on the Madinah eGovernment project in Saudi Arabia, before being approached by a local investor to setup his own digital services agency. Upon his return to the UK he sought work within the third sector, and to-date has worked at Cancer Research, Internews Europe, VSO, Global Action Plan, Changing Faces and now ECIS.
In his spare time, Mohammed works as designated chauffeur to his 4 children - who share his creative interest in art and design, but cringe at his taste in vintage fashion, not to mention his Le Corbusier-inspired glasses!
Mohammed enjoys watching Grand Designs, chicken tikka and the occasional Sunday morning "stroll" from Marble Arch to Mile End - but not necessarily in that order.
Job Titles:
- Lead Facilitator & Trainer
Nancy is the Lead Facilitator and Trainer for ECIS, and the facilitator for the soon-to-be-launched ECIS Loft, which provides professional learning opportunities for international educators. She is a trainer for the Principals' Training Center and the ECIS Middle Leaders Certificate Programme with a true passion for supporting the development of teacher leadership. Nancy is one of the network leaders for @WomenEdBeLux, a global grassroots movement that connects aspiring and existing women leaders in education and is also the Chair of the ECIS "Women in Education" special interest group. Her previous roles include the Head of Community Relations at the International School of Luxembourg, Assistant Principal responsible for Teaching and Learning, Chair of ECIS Curriculum and Assessment Committee, and a Middle School teacher for 24 years. Her approach to developing a positive school climate is building and supporting strong relationships between all the school's stakeholders.
Job Titles:
- Head of School, Benjamin Franklin International School, Barcelona
Job Titles:
- Head of School, International School of London
Job Titles:
- Head of Professional Learning
Sarah is the Head of Professional Learning at ECIS. In international school headship positions, she led teams who developed innovative, dual language and interlingual approaches to learning and language development. She has worked in the UK and Germany as a primary, secondary and special education teacher, and she taught undergraduate education in London.
Until recently, Sarah Kupke wa s the Head of the Sindelfingen Campus at the International School of Stuttgart. Before moving to Germany in 1990, she taught in primary, secondary and special education as well as teaching undergraduate education at the Froebel College in London, UK. Sarah has worked with Debra Rader, to lead Intercultural Understanding institutes since 2019. Passionate about the learning process, Sarah believe s that intercultural understanding is vital to our appreciation of one another. Mutual respect, a genuine interest in each other, the ability to empathise and show compassion are attitudes and values that we continue to learn throughout our lives and need to be intentionally taught in schools as well as in the home.
Job Titles:
- Head of School, International School of Stuttgart ( Chair )
Job Titles:
- Head of School, Beijing City International School